Bulldogs Drop Five-Game Heartbreaker To ETSU
October 27, 2007 | Volleyball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – After clawing back to even the match at two games apiece, the Gardner-Webb volleyball team ran out of steam in game five, falling by a 3-2 score (31-29, 19-30, 20-30, 30-27, 8-15) to ETSU Saturday evening in Paul Porter Arena.
The Bulldogs fall to 13-15 on the season and 4-5 in A-Sun play. The Lady Bucs improve to 17-12 overall and 7-2 in conference competition.
Junior Heidi Steinebrunner led the way offensively, amassing 13 kills, for GWU. Seniors Audra Harrison and Ashley Pridgeon each accounted for 12 kills in the match. Junior Bethany Martin totaled nine kills.
Sophomore Regina Feagin dished out a match-best 46 assists. Pridgeon garnered a match-high four service aces while Harrison and junior Katie Matykowski each sliced through the Lady Bucs' defense on three occasions. Sophomore Brett Wilson, along with Steinebrunner, each had one for GWU. The 12 aces is a season best.
Defensively, Matykowski carried the load, amassing 23 digs. However, Feagin, Steinebrunner and Pridgeon all tallied double figures in the category. Feagin notched 16 while Steinebrunner and Pridgeon had 14 and 12, respectively. Harrison chipped in nine.
The defensive effort was there in the middle as the squad combined to have two solo blocks, both of which came from sophomore Jessica Clayton. The team combined to block five more balls for seven total blocks. Clayton added four block assists in the match while Carrie Long chipped in two.
In game one, GWU fell behind early, but battled back to take a 10-9 lead on one of Clayton's solo blocks. After an ETSU point, GWU ran off six of the next eight points for a 16-12 advantage. The Bulldogs scored a variety of ways including kills, aces and ETSU miscues.
Despite the lead, the visitors battled back to pull even at 21 apiece. GWU, resilient in the early going, responded with a couple quick points only to see ETSU jump out to a 26-24 lead. After re-taking the lead at 27-26, ETSU scored a point before each teams traded points again, knotting the score at 28. Steinebrunner gave GWU the lead on a kill, but ETSU tied the match. Facing extra points, Pridgeon slammed home the 30th point of the game before Matykowski's ace secured the 31-29 victory in game one.
The Bulldogs took an early 9-6 advantage in game two, but Whitney Cogburn's serves were too much for the home team. With Cogburn serving, the visitors landed 10 straight points in a variety of ways, essentially putting the game out of reach. ETSU won the second game 30-19.
After the intermission, GWU jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead, but the Lady Bucs battled back, tying the game at 6-6. From there, a 9-3 run put ETSU ahead for good as the Bulldogs, no matter how hard they tried, were unable to get back into the game. ETSU won game three by a 30-20 margin.
Head coach Chris Phillips' team battled back, securing the game four victory and forcing game five by solid all-around play. With the score tied 5-5, GWU netted 10 of the next 15 points for a 15-10 lead. However, ETSU roared back to pull within one. However, the senior leadership pushed GWU ahead by three as Pridgeon slammed home two straight balls for a 17-14 advantage.
After the Lady Bucs again trimmed the deficit to one at 20-19, Harrison's kill gave GWU the side-out it needed. Steinebrunner served an ace before Pridgeon's kill gave the Bulldogs a 23-19 lead. Three straight attack errors by GWU essentially put the game away. ETSU scored some late points, but the Bulldogs were able to win a 30-27 game.
Pridgeon gave GWU a 1-0 lead in game five with one of her kills, but it was the only lead the Bulldogs would take in the game as ETSU scored the next five points. After an ETSU attack error, Harrison dropped back to serve. Martin scored on a kill before Harrison notched two straight service errors. However, an attack error by Steinebrunner gave the Lady Bucs the lead for good. GWU could only muster three more points in the deciding fifth game, falling 15-8.
The Bulldogs return to action on Nov. 2, which is Senior Night.
GWU hosts Belmont at 7 p.m. However, before the match begins, the
senior trio of Audra Harrison, Jackie Mathison and Ashley Pridgeon
will be honored. The ceremony will begin at approximately 6:45
p.m., in Paul Porter Arena.
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